Differential gene expression pattern in hypothalamus of chickens during fasting-induced metabolic reprogramming: Functions of glucose and lipid metabolism in the feed intake of chickens

Abstract Fasting-induced hypothalamic metabolic reprogramming is involved in regulating energy homeostasis and appetite in mammals, but this phenomenon remains unclear in poultry. In this study, the expression patterns of a panel of genes related to neuropeptides, glucose, and lipid metabolism enzymes in the hypothalamus of chickens during fasting and refeeding were characterized by microarray analysis and quantitative PCR. Results showed that 48 h of fasting upregulated (P d -glucose (glycolytic inhibitor, 0.12 to 1.20 μmol) and NAD+ (SIRT1 activator, 0.08 to 0.80 μmol) increased feed intake in chickens. The orexigenic effect of NAD+ was also blocked by cotreatment with NADH. However, ICV injection of either GW7647 (PPARα agonist) or GW6471 (PPARα antagonist) showed no effects on feed intake. Results suggested that hypothalamic glycolysis (inhibited by ALA and promoted by 2-deoxy- d -glucose) and SIRT1 (inhibited by NADH and promoted by NAD+), not PPARα, were probably involved in feed intake regulation in chickens.